Traveling and exploring new places are some of my favourite things to do, but I am always afraid that I will somehow forget all these beautiful experiences. Not the trip itself, but the little details that made it amazing: the name of the café I often passed by, the delicious dish I tried, the people I met and all the things I saw.
This may be a generational thing or a me thing, but I will always be looking for ways to keep my travel memories alive so that I can remember how I felt and what I saw even decades after.
So, I wanted to share a list of things you can do to remember your trips and remind yourself of all the beautiful places you went to!
Why you should preserve your travel memories
Some people prefer to keep every memory they have in their brain, and that’s perfectly fine, while others takes hundreds and thousands of photos and videos that will stay in their phone practically untouched.
Finding new ways to keep memories of your travels makes the memories from your trip even more special, and it creates a place where you will be able to revisit your memories and remember some specific parts of your journey for years to come.
In creating beautiful memories, anticipation and presence are important, but so is reminiscing, and the process of remembering a happy memory also helps in making it extra special.
Did you face some issues during your trip? Maybe you’ll want to learn how to turn travel fails into happy memories!
Which way of keeping your travel memories works for you?
The items that will follow are very varied and you can combine them as much as you like. Some of them are simple “souvenirs” that can just mark the fact that you went to a place, while others will have more details.
It is ultimately up to you to decide if a simple keepsake will be enough for you or if you want to keep the details of all the places you went to and how you felt.
You don’t have to use the same method for all your trips, and maybe you’ll want to dedicate more time and effort to a specific travel memory, while for another you’ll be happy with just a little souvenir.
What matters is that you enjoy the process!
Things you can create
Keep a travel journal
I have already talked about my travel journal on this blog, as this is my favourite way of keeping track of my travels. Your travel journal can look however you want it to look and can be as detailed, artsy or scrapbooky as you like.
You can write in your travel journal every day while your travel or fill it in when you are back. I like to do it everyday but of course you need to be consistent with it so that requires some effort.
Here are some ideas of travel journals to fit your needs:
- scrapbook or “junk journal”: collect receipts, business cards, flyers, stickers or wrapping paper to stick in your journal
- art journal: draw or paint your favourites from each day, the food you ate, a beautiful view you admired or just a random thing you saw
- written journal: write what you did and how you felt, jot down the names of places you visited or food you ate. This can be in the form of bullet points and lists or long sentences
And, of course, your journal can incorporate a little bit of everything!
Make a digital or physical photo album
A great option that can be very low-effort if you want is to create a photo album. Pick your favourite photos from your trip and make it into a beautiful album.
Here is what your photo album can look like:
- fully digital: some apps like Google Photos allow you to create a digital album, or if you want it to look prettier you can use apps/websites like Canva to create a pretty layout, then download it as PDF
- PowerPoint presentation: another option to vary a bit from the traditional “photo album” look
- create online and print: many websites allow you to create the layout of your album online, then they print it into a beautiful book format and send it to you
- physical album: like in the old times, you can just print your photos and stick them manually on an album.
Whichever option you choose, you can add as little or as much details as you like (text, drawings, stickers, etc.), so it’s perfect if you are more of a visual type!
Create short or long videos of your trip
This definitely takes more time if you are not used to doing it, but it is a fantastic way to keep your travel memories.
For a short video, you can just film very short 2-3 second clips and paste all of them together in a video editing app.
For a long video you can add longer shots and even some portions when you are talking (think travel vlogs!), but of course the editing of such videos might take much longer!
In any case, creating a video to remember your trip also allows you to put some music that reminds you of your trip!
Make a playlist
…And that’s a perfect transition for this other idea! Music carries memories and I am certain you have all experienced a jump back in time when listening to a song you liked when you were a teenager.
To have the soundtrack of you holidays you can create the playlist:
- before your trip: adding music with the vibe that you want for your trip, some tracks from local artists or in the language of the country you’re visiting
- after your trip: adding music that you discovered there or that was always up on the radio
Of course, you can combine both to create your ultimate travel playlist for each place you visit! Then, you just have to play it to revisit your memories from that time!
Create a memory frame
If all the options above require too much work for you, or if you have tons of scrap paper from your trip, this is a great option to have all your travel memories in one place.
- Select all the papers and images that most remind you of your trip (maps, business cards, transport cards, wrapping papers, photos that you print, etc.)
- Pick a frame, choosing a size according to how much you have
- Put everything down in a nice layout and frame it
Again, this can be very simple with just a map as a background and a couple of photos, or very intricate with a mix-match of several things. You choose!
Collect sand or other natural materials
If you are not so much for collecting trinkets and souvenirs, but still want to keep a memory of your trip in a visual way without relying on photos too much, you can collect some things from all around you.
This can especially be nice if you hike a lot or like to visit parks or walk around nature.
For example, you can collect sand from different beaches you went to and store them in small jars, or pick leaves or flowers, press them and make a herbarium or frame them. There are plenty of ways to display such natural materials.
‼️Please note: If you are in a national park or nature reserve, keep in mind that you are probably not allowed to pick wildflowers or plants. Only take leaves or flowers that have already fallen. Also, some countries have strict rules when it comes to importing plants so please check with yours‼️
Use travel apps like Polarsteps
If you want to keep it digital, there are apps that can help you showcase and remember your trip in many beautiful ways that are not just story highlights on Instagram.
An app that I recently discovered is Polarsteps. It shows a world map and you can pin where you are or have been, upload photos and text for each day, and your friends can like and comment them.
It is a very nice and visual way to remember an itinerary or to show your friends and family where you are, especially if some don’t have social media. You can also save all your past trips there and revist them each time you want!
Things you can buy
Not everyone has the time, patience or creativity to make something from scratch to keep a meaningful memory of a trip, so buying something can be a good option to have a souvenir without investing too much time in it.
Postcards
Buying postcards is a cheap and easy way to keep a memory from the place you visited. You can send them to family and friends or just keep them for yourself.
One thing you can do with postcards is also to buy one for each place you visit and write in it like you would in a travel journal. This way, you’ll also have some more specific memories and details!
At the end of your trip you can keep your postcards in a photo album or put them up on a dedicated wall at home!
Books
This is for my bookish readers out here! I love browsing bookstores in foreign countries and seeing the covers of books that I already know. Buying books in another country is a great way to keep a souvenir from a place you visited, and I would suggest writing somewhere in the book when and where you bought it.
Here are some ideas for books to buy in a new place:
- your favourite book translated in the language (or regional dialect) of the place you’re visiting – I do this with The Little Prince by Saint Exupéry!
- a translated book (nowadays many bookshops also sell books in English) from a local author
- a translated book set in the place you are visiting or about it – bonus points if it’s from a local author!
- a random book you find pretty – a bit less useful as you won’t be able to read, so it can be a photography book for example
Artwork from local artists
This might be a bit more difficult and require some research as it is sometimes difficult to find authentic art pieces, especially in very touristic places.
Supporting the local economy is great and buying something from a local artist can make for an amazing souvenir for yourself or your family and friends. It will be one-of-a-kind and will make for an interesting conversation back home.
Some ideas could be: paintings, printed photos, sculptures of various kinds, plates or vases, etc.
Clothes and accessories
If you tend to gravitate more towards “useful” stuff – or if you love shopping – buying clothes or accessories in the place you visit can be a great way to keep a memory of your trip. And every time you’ll wear them, you’ll be reminded of your trip! Bonus points if they are from a local brand or local artist!
Some tips and ideas:
- It doesn’t have to be a t-shirt with the name of the country on it, but even a pretty skirt, a pair of jeans, shoes, a bag or cute earrings
- You can stick to basics but I would recommend trying to find things that are unique and that you wouldn’t necessarily find in your own country
- Try also to pick things that you would actually wear: in your daily life, as pyjamas or on special occasions
- For accessories, you can buy little bracelet charms, necklaces with colours that remind you of the place or pretty earrings
Some examples of clothes or accessories I have from my past trips:
- Greece: a beautiful pair of earrings which colors remind me of the Greek sea
- Portugal: earrings with azulejos, the traditional Portuguese tiles
- South Korea: a trouser and top set that has a shape similar to traditional clothes but with a modern twist – so that I can easily wear it in Belgium!
- Norway: very simple black linen trousers
Small souvenirs
Of course, the most obvious way to keep travel memories is to buy small souvenirs to bring home or to gift your loved ones. In this, I’ve noticed that some people religiously buy souvenirs, while others skip this entirely in favour of other options.
The good thing about small souvenirs that you can find in souvenir shops is that you are almost certain you’ll find some items wherever you go, so it’s great if you want to start a collection.
Some more obvious choices are fridge magnets, mugs or glasses, but you can also buy stickers and stamps, tea towels or Christmas ornaments!
I hope this post inspired you to make a small extra effort next time you are traveling to collect some memories and keep them somewhere.
Travelling somewhere new is a privilege that we shouldn’t take for granted, so keeping your memories of those special occasions close is a great way to reminisce happy and beautiful memories.
What is your preferred way of keeping your travel memories alive?
